Josh Smith is not opposed to Milwaukee -- the city or the weather -- and likes the Bucks' roster enough to re-sign there if traded, a league source told CBSSports.com Wednesday.

With less than 24 hours before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Bucks, Suns and Nets are the most realistic suitors in a trade for Smith, sources said. Milwaukee's chances of landing the 6-foot-9 forward were viewed in some league circles as diminished by the team's small-market and cold-weather status. Smith, however, is more interested in the talent he'll be playing with than geography.

But that's part of the sticking point in getting a deal done with the Bucks. If Milwaukee surrendered either member of its starting backcourt, Brandon Jennings or Monta Ellis, it would diminish Smith's enthusiasm for making a long-term commitment there. And those are Milwaukee's two most dynamic assets in a potential package for Smith.

League executives continue to believe that Phoenix is the most realistic destination for Smith. It would be a slam dunk if the Suns were willing to surrender two first-round picks in the deal -- their own and the Lakers' pick obtained in the Steve Nash trade -- in addition to center Marcin Gortat. However, rival execs believe strongly that the Suns will not agree to give the Hawks multiple picks, especially their own, which will be high in the lottery.

The Nets have offered MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries and either a first-round pick or Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic for Smith. Short of the Suns offering two first-rounders, some execs believe Brooklyn's offer may be the best GM Danny Ferry is able to extract for Smith, a 27-year-old prospective free agent who has never been an All-Star. But sources say Ferry's refusal to take back salary beyond this season is a sticking point the Nets will have trouble overcoming. Finding a third team to absorb Humphries or perhaps Gerald Wallace in a Smith deal would be challenging, to say the least.

The Celtics have discussed a potential deal with Atlanta involving Smith and Paul Pierce, who has only $4 million guaranteed next season. Most rival front offices now believe the Celtics will try to add to their roster before Thursday's deadline, not blow it up.